EPA Awards Millions for Drinking Water Projects

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a total of $25.3 million to three eastern states to improve drinking water systems and protect drinking water supplies.

Delaware

The Delaware Health and Social Services will receive $8 million, and the state will contribute $1.6 million in matching funds.

About $7.3 million of the funding will be used to provide Delaware communities with low-interest loans to fund improvements to drinking water systems that could include upgrading treatment plants, replacing storage tanks, consolidating inadequate facilities, replacing distribution lines, improving pumping stations and constructing wells and transmission mains.

Additionally, Delaware Health and Social Services will use about $2.3 million of the funding to manage the loan program, to provide technical assistance to small water systems, to expand operator training and certification programs, to protect drinking water supplies from contamination and to ensure that drinking water systems remain viable.

Maryland

Maryland Department of the Environment will receive $9.3, and the state will contribute $1.8 million in matching funds.

About $8.2 million of the funding will be used to provide Maryland communities with low-interest loans to fund improvements to drinking water systems that could include upgrading treatment plants, replacing storage tanks, consolidating inadequate facilities, replacing distribution lines, improving pumping stations, and constructing wells and transmission mains.

Additionally, the Maryland Department of Environment will use about $2.9 million of the funding to manage the loan program, to provide technical assistance to small water systems, to expand operator training and certification programs, to protect drinking water supplies from contamination and to ensure that drinking water systems remain viable.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will receive $8 million, and the state will contribute $2.4 million in matching funds.

About $7.1 million of the funding will be used for low-interest loans which communities can use to fund improvements to drinking water systems that could include upgrading treatment plants, replacing storage tanks, consolidating inadequate facilities, replacing distribution lines, improving pumping stations, and constructing wells and transmission mains.

Additionally, the West Virginia Department of Health will use about $3.3 million of the funding to manage the loan program, to provide technical assistance to small water systems, to expand operator training and certification programs, to protect drinking water supplies from contamination and to ensure that drinking water systems remain viable. The state selects projects based on environmental, public health and technical merit.

The EPA grant is from the drinking water state revolving fund authorized by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The program emphasizes preventing contamination through source water protection and enhanced water systems management. As communities repay their loans, the funds are available for new projects in Delaware.